Crawley Boxing Club star Matarr Wanda bows out in thrilling national semi-final

Crawley Amateur Boxing Club 31-3-14 Mattarr Wanda (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-140104-101032002

Crawley Boxing Club's junior star Matarr Wanda came close to landing a place in the prestigious Junior ABA National final.

The Thomas Bennett Community College pupil lost out on the tightest of margins to National Schoolboy Champion Ryan Adair from The Cambridge Police ABC in the National semi-final in Leysdown in Kent.

Matarr, 15, had a better second round, warming to the task his shots now started to find the target.

His straight one-two combinations were now landing from distance but the clever Cambridge boxer was still landing his fair share of blows.

It looked as if a strong last round from either boy would secure a slot in the final.

The last was the best of the contest for Wanda who did not stop pushing forward and throwing punches but Adair was with him all the way to the finish.

Some observers, including one of the three ringside judges thought that Wanda had done enough to secure the decision.

Unfortunately for Wanda the other two judges gave their decision to the Cambridge boxer meaning that Matarr lost out on a split points decision.